operative word

noun

The key word in a sentence.

“Planes crash rarely, but for the media the operative word is "crash".”

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Meanings

nounoperative word (plural operative words)

plural operative words

  1. The key word in a sentence.

    Planes crash rarely, but for the media the operative word is "crash".

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
keyword
Cite this entry
APA

operative word. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/operative%20word

MLA

“operative word.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/operative%20word. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “operative word,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/operative%20word.

Source: operative word on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.